New Delhi: Ajit Kumar Panda has assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) with effect from August 1, 2026. He succeeds Mr. Sanjay Swarup, who ceased to hold the position after retiring on superannuation on July 31, 2026.
The appointment of Mr. Ajit Kumar Panda, who was serving as Director (Projects & Services) at CONCOR, has been made under the direction of the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. His tenure as CMD will continue until August 31, 2028, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Ajit Kumar Panda Takes Charge as CONCOR CMD
Mr. Ajit Kumar Panda (DIN: 08221385) brings more than three and a half decades of experience in the Indian Railways and related sectors.
A 1990-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), Panda has extensive expertise in areas including:
- Railway services and operations
- Logistics
- Production
- Infrastructure development
- Rolling stock
- Public-private partnerships (PPPs)
Before taking charge as CMD, he served as Director (Projects & Services) of CONCOR since December 2022.
Panda’s Role as Director (Projects & Services) at CONCOR
During his tenure as Director (Projects & Services), Mr. Ajit Kumar Panda was responsible for several key areas of CONCOR’s infrastructure and business development.
His responsibilities included:
- Setting up Multi Modal Logistics Parks
- Acquisition of new rolling stock
- Procurement of containers and handling machines
- Development of CONCOR’s MIS and IT platforms
- Launch of new business initiatives
His experience in infrastructure and logistics is expected to support CONCOR’s continued growth and development under his leadership.
Extensive Experience in Indian Railways and Infrastructure
Prior to joining CONCOR’s senior management, Mr. Ajit Kumar Panda held several important positions across the Indian Railways and related organisations.
His previous roles include:
- Executive Director (Mechanical Engineering and Project Planning & Development), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
- Director (Production Units and Efficiency & Research), Ministry of Railways, Railway Board
- Chief Workshop Manager, East Coast Railway, Mancheswar
- Various positions in South Eastern Railway
At RVNL, Panda led the establishment of several state-of-the-art factories and depots through fast-track turnkey execution using composite contracts.
He also played an important role in rolling stock planning at the Railway Board, supporting the transition towards high-horsepower locomotives and LHB-type coaches. He also coordinated record production of locomotives, coaches and wagons.
Panda Served on Boards of Four Railway SPVs
Mr. Ajit Kumar Panda has also served as a director on the boards of four Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) companies.
These include:
- Haridaspur Paradip Railway Company Limited
- Angul Sukinda Railway Limited
- Kutch Railway Company Limited
- Krishnapatnam Railway Company Limited
His experience across railway infrastructure projects, logistics and public-private partnerships has provided him with extensive exposure to large-scale infrastructure development.
Two-Time Recipient of Railway Minister’s National Award
Mr. Ajit Kumar Panda has been recognised for his contribution to the Indian Railways and has received the Railway Minister’s National Award for Outstanding Service twice.
He also provided transformational leadership at the Mancheswar Workshop through various initiatives focused on organisational change and development.
Educational Qualification of Ajit Kumar Panda
Mr. Ajit Kumar Panda holds a BSc Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Rourkela and an M.Tech in Thermal Engineering from IIT Delhi.
With his academic background and more than three decades of professional experience in railway operations, logistics, infrastructure and project management, Panda brings extensive sectoral expertise to his new role as CMD of CONCOR.
Sanjay Swarup Retires as CONCOR CMD
With Mr. Ajit Kumar Panda taking charge as CMD from August 1, 2026, Mr. Sanjay Swarup has ceased to hold the office following his superannuation on July 31, 2026.
Panda’s appointment is effective from August 1, 2026, and will remain valid until August 31, 2028, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
About CONCOR
Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR) is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Established in 1988, the company provides integrated logistics solutions, including container transportation by rail and road, terminal operations, warehousing, and multimodal logistics services to support India’s domestic and international trade.
